The straight talk campaign in Uganda: impact of mass media initiatives

This study, published by the Population Council, looks at the impact of Straight Talk (ST), a mass media initiative focused on adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) in Uganda.

The report finds that exposure to the project was associated with greater ASRH knowledge, a greater likelihood of having been tested for HIV and increased communication with parents about ASRH issues. The results also show that for girls, exposure to ST materials is further associated with greater self assuredness, greater sense of gender equity, and the likelihood of having a boyfriend but not having a sexual relationship. Among males, ST exposure is associated with lower likelihood of sexual activity, greater likelihood of resuming abstinence, and a greater likelihood of taking relationships with girls seriously. The report concludes that ST may have protected many boys from HIV by helping them to stop sexual activity or to delay starting it all together.[adapted from author]

Publisher: Population Council
Year of Publication: 2007